Register Windows 7 that was previously 'non genuine'...

I have a customer who's windows 7 laptop was displaying issues when we tried to install programs. It was determined that the copy of windows7 was either not genuine or someone hacked or made it look registered for some reason. She purchased the laptop at Best Buy last year but does not have the receipt. She went ahead and purchased another copy of Windowss7 from the microsoft website and has the new product key and we can download the iso or exe.

Is there an easy way to update her OS and make it 'genuine' without having to reinstall the OS? We dont want to have to rebuild this laptop. Suggestions please.. we want this to be EASY and QUICK.

You can try to enter new key. It should be possible if Windows version it the same.
If new version is higher then installed, you should upgrade version from downloaded medis. If installed version is higher then new one, it will not be possible. You can upgrade, but can't downgrade.
Can you show here both versions?

If the key is for the same version that is installed, you should just be able to enter the license key and then activate (for example if home premium is installed and the key is also home premium). If it isn't the same version I think you need a re-install.

Personally I'd suggest a complete new installation. If the PC has an illegitimate OS on it, chances are big that there is also malware and other illegitimate software on it that you don't know of. A fresh install would clean that stuff off too.

But not of any other not legit software. Even though the author doesn't want to re-install he should really convince the customer that this is the better solution. It's also not just malware, but possibly a cracked version of windows, if there are files that were changed to crack the OS, it will still not be legit or work properly even if the key is changed, as the EULA of m$ for the OS prohibits changing system files.

0

mchyzikAuthor Commented: 2012-08-19

I contacted MS directly and they verified that this is a GENUINE copy. THey have been working remotely on my system now and it has been determined that the system files were corrupt, thus requiring us to perform a system repair.

I want to thank you folks for your quick response to me!!! I'll come back if I require more information.

I think we should honor Rindi's comment and retain scoring as it is because his recommendation became the ultimate path.

Although it was mentioned in the post of the mchyzik that a quick fix is wanted, that shouldn't stop experts from providing insights against the question if it's a better way to fix things. In numerous instances, I have answered questions sometimes way beyond what the one asking has intended it to be.